Building-block.



No, 790,514. y I MIBNTEDI MAY 23, 1905.

G. W, & B. MEARA.

vBUILDING BLOCK.

APPLIUATION FILED JULY 16.1904.

www y A f UNITED STATES .Patented may 23, 1905.

`PATENT OFFICE.

BUILDING-BLOCK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 790,514, ldated May 23, y1905.

Application filed July 16, 1904:. Serial No. 216,901.

'To a/ZZ whom, t 7n/nay concern,.-

Be it known that we, CHARLEsW. MEAR and ROBERT MEARA, citizens of the United States, residing at Ogden, in the county of Weber and State of Utah, have invented new and useful Improvements in Building-Blocks,

of which the following is a specification.

This inventionA relates to artificial -stone blocks employed in building; and its objects are to increase the strength of the block, to adapt it for accurate setting in the wall, whether carried in a sling or. not, and to provide continuons vertical and horizontal shafts or channels for ventilation or for' pipes conveying water, gas, &c.

The accompanying drawings illustrate the invention, its various features being referred to by letters, similar letters denoting corresponding partsv in the several views.

Figure l is a vperspective view of one of the blocks. Fig. 2 is a reduced elevation of several blocks laid in a wall, one of the blocks being in longitudinal vertical section.y Fig. 3 is a vertical cross-section of a block, taken near one end; and Fig. i is a side view ofy one of the strengthening-bars.

AThe letter A designates a building-block. It has end recesses a a and edge recesses a' a connected therewith to form a continuous recess around the block. The sides B B are plane `and constitute the face of the wall on either side of it. The recesses a and a are so located as to secure connecting horizontaly and vertical air-spaces throughout the entire wall. While the horizontal spaces would be in alinement, the vertical spaces would be broken continually at each layer of the blocks, and in order to make straight vertical shafts an opening a2 is formed vertically through each block, this opening being in line with the edge recesses in the blocks above and below it. When laying the blocks in the wall, the

sling carrying the block occupies the recesses and is readily removed when the stone is in place. l

C is a piece of metal curved into the form of a horseshoe and having at each end abend c. These pieces C are linked together in pairs at their curved parts o', and two pairs of them are molded 'in each block, one pair near each end of the block, and are so placed that the open end of each piece will extend on each side of the edge recesses a'.

Rods or bars D, having bent ends d, extend lengthwise through the block between the pieces C, the bent ends of the rods engaging the bent ends of the pieces C.

The dierent parts of the reinforcement being separable, they are easily adjusted in the mold with the material when the blocks' are made and very greatly increase the resisting power of the block against both vertical and lateral pressure and also protectit against fracture from concussion.

Dowel-pins E are adapted to fit into holes e in the edge of the block, the pins being so spaced that joints will be broken when the blocks are laid in the wall.

The construction of these blocks enables them to be laid in the wall by unskilled laborers, and the pipes conveying water, gas, &c., can be laid in the shafts provided for them while the wall is going up.

Having described our invention and the manner of using it, what we claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

1. A building-block having a continuous yrecess around its ends and edges, curved metal pieces linked in pairs near each end of the blocksaid recesses in the edges of the block lying between the open ends of said curved pieces, and rods connecting said curved pieces as herein set forth.

2. A building-block having a continuous recess around its ends and edges, dowel-pins in its edges, a vertical opening connecting the edge recesses through the central part of the block, curved metal pieces near each end of the block and rods connecting said curved pieces, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof we have signed our names to this specification in the presence of two subscribing witnesses.

CHARLES WV. MEARA. ROBERT MEA'RA.

Witnesses:`

THOMAS J. ALMY,

ALoNzo Cr. BosH. 

